S.Willis

Very nice Matt. I always have wanted to make spurs,but really didn't know how to even start.

Same here,Til this afternoon

great looking hawks

4130,4140 and 5160 will make good hawk/hammer drifts. I hand hammer and do not use a press. I just normalize and not heat treat. I have few that have been used alot without problems. I even have made them out of mild steel and have used them quiet a bit.

I cut to size then use spokeshave and farriers rasp.

Very nice looking hawk.

Matthew, I actually cheated a little on this one. I usually inlay the brass moon but on this one I made a moon shaped punch. Stamped it,then brazed the stamping in and ground it back down.
Here is a link on a tutorial that will explain the sire inlay better than I can. silver wire Thank you for compliments

She will love it.

How about a tomahawk

Play nice, Butch.

I can't help it. I think of Butch in the "Our Gang" films.

He acts a little more like Buckwheat:D

Very nice.

But Butch, Listen to me. If the blade is parallel with the eye as this one is. Note that the spike is leaning the left. When you heat it back up and hit it with your pipe it is going to marr the side of the head!!! duh huh:D

Ron I have been told most ball peen hammers are L6 or 1045. Normalize a couple times before heat treating. I heat mine to non-magnetic,quench in trans fluid that is preheated to 140 degrees. Then draw back to a blue color. I only edge quench about 1/2 inch up.

looks good Ron

The only problem I have ever had with round eyes. The head will sometimes try to turn with you while chopping. You could drill thru the head and haft and pin it. It is not really traditional. I see alot of people do this even with traditional handles.

Starting with S hooks and J hooks many years ago and still making them.

I drift the eye first on ball peens and stock. Heres some pics of a few of my drifts
The one on the left I made to open the eye a little before drifting with the store bought drift. The eyes on the ball peens are a little smaller.

Heres another shot

Here is how I line everything up.

Congrats!!! Now it is in your blood.

So get the drift in the eye and draw it on the anvil?
Great Hawks

Ron, I use to drift across my vise. I open the jaws enough to accept the round part of the hammer and the drift. Then start drifting rotating side every other heat until the last few heats and then drift from just one side. I now drift on a stand I made just for this. Here is a couple pictures.

Here's one from a 24 oz ball peen. I drifted it with a larger oval drift.

You could also buy a hawk drift from one of the blacksmith suppliers

Steve, that is actually what it is. Here is a how to link by A.Longmire that will clear it up doing a fancy pipe hawk handle my way - Bladesmith's Forum Board

Here is one I just finished up. Forged from 1 in square 1045. Walnut handle with pour in place pewter fittings and lightly aged finish.

Looks good to me. Nice work

Coal and propane

I first met Tom about 15 years ago at John C Campbell. He will be greatly missed. Prayers sent out to his family.